Poland Launches 50 New Prosecutors' Offices to Combat Hate Speech, Investigations Begin in March

Poland's New Campaign Against Hate Speech

According to ХВИЛЯ: Poland is launching a major initiative to combat hate speech, spearheaded by Justice Minister and Attorney General Waldemar Żurek. The campaign will see the creation of 50 specialized prosecutors' offices dedicated to investigating hate crimes, including those targeting Ukrainians. These investigations are scheduled to commence in March. This move comes as Poland hosts a large number of Ukrainian refugees following Russia's full-scale invasion.

Structure of the New Prosecution Units

According to the plan, 49 district-level and one regional-level prosecutors' office will be established. Each district office will be staffed by two specialized prosecutors, while the regional office in Warsaw will have three. The Warsaw-based unit will handle the most complex and significant hate speech cases.

The new units will specialize in investigating crimes related to:

• Insults based on nationality, ethnicity, or religion;
• Violence motivated by these factors;
• Insults against the Polish nation;
• Obstruction of religious ceremonies;
• Propaganda of totalitarian ideologies.

Waldemar Żurek emphasized that the appointed units will pursue hate speech in its broadest sense, regardless of whether the victims are Ukrainians, Jews, Roma, or Polish citizens with differing views.

Unofficial reports indicate that one of the prosecutors in the capital's office will be Maciej Młynarczyk. He stressed that 'the state's failure to react effectively to aggression rooted in nationality, religion, or skin color harms the entire society, increasing tolerance for violence and undermining stability.' Similar specialized units already operate in several European countries, reflecting an international trend to counter hate speech.

The establishment of these specialized prosecutors' offices in Poland underscores the seriousness with which the country is addressing the problem of hate speech and hate crimes. This decision also aligns with broader European initiatives aimed at protecting human rights and preventing violence stemming from racial, national, or religious motives. Implementing such measures may help enhance protection for vulnerable groups and reduce social tensions within the country.